Teri has a diverse background in many building types. Originally focusing on financial institutions & commercial office space, Teri also has experience in Historic Adaptive Reuse, Multi- Family Housing, Healthcare, Educational, Industrial, Retail projects and complex renovations. Teri helps client and design teams to better visualize and analyze planning and design concepts in all phases of the design process.
A real skill of listening is offered by Teri. Listen and develop a vision. She is very good at communicating, good at adjusting, and very trustworthy to share early stage details with on projects. Even if many revisions are needed she delivers with creative expertise while respecting budgets. Good ability to take general concepts and build a end product with imagination. Paul Staman
Teri and I have worked with the same developer on several projects where she has provided architectural services and I have worked on tax credit and other financial incentives. Often the applications I was working on were dependent on Teri's product. She always delivered what was needed (structural drawings, window inventories, renderings, etc.) on time and with great work quality. In addition, Teri's can-do attitude has made her a pleasure to work with. Mary Lawyer
I have been associated with Teri Petrzalek...for several years and have admired [her] honesty, straight answers, and abilities in getting projects completed in a timely fashion. Anytime I have had questions or suggestions they will answer them or get me answers so I can make decisions, which time after time have proven to be correct. I highly recommend [them]; they have been great to work with. J. R. Brumley, CEO - South Slope Cooperative Communications Company
Teri worked with Mr. Brumley while with Morning Star Studio, designing multi-million dollar projects.
Watch this space for news related to our studio and projects.
When I graduated from Iowa State University in the early eighties- I knew of one female
architect- (besides two of my instructors) who worked for the state historical society.
The local firms I interviewed with had the occasional female draftsperson or interior designer, but no architects.
I interviewed with one firm where the owner asked me if I could pound a nail and saw a board. Having just finished a wood class at ISU I told him my daddy had taught me those things, but I could also bring in a walnut jewelry box with some hand cut dovetail joints I had just finished, if he wanted to see it. He did not.
I quit my first job in architecture after two years because they hired a man, without a degree, to do the same drafting job I was doing, and paid him 50% more. When I found this out and challenged them, they said, "Joe has a family."
I graduated with a four year degree the year before the state licensing board decided to require a five year degree. So I got registered in Wisconsin, and spent the next eight years making up course work so I could get an equivalency to a five year degree and become licensed in Iowa.
I worked for 21 years for other people and when my mom died I decided to go out on my own.
Well , on my own with two other women.
Morning Star Studio was started in 2004 with the idea that personal client service was getting too far away from the people doing the work. We were fortunate that striking out on our own was rewarded by loyal clients who wanted to continue to work with us.
Over the nearly 20 years of Morning Star Studio, we went from corporate and banking clients to more developer-backed work: Retail, Restaurants and Multi-family housing.
At the end of 2023 Shanna Duggan, our structural engineer, decided to retire.
Thus, Studio No. 27 was born.
People ask why I also did not retire, but I'm too young! I see myself as one of those people who might never retire, like my mom. Only I think she officially retired multiple times, she just never quit working. Bottom line is I enjoy architecture. I enjoy learning about new people, new businesses, new technology. I started college as an undeclared engineering major, but after taking some architecture classes and learning about organic architecture from an Arizona Highways magazine article on Frank Lloyd Wright, I was hooked. To me, architecture was the perfect blend of art and science. Frank says, "Architecture is the mother art." I like that.
It gives me the opportunity to help people, not just to build buildings, but to shape their lives.
- Teri
